Rustle, rustle.
Yuria was diligently scribbling away with her quill in her small hand.
Then, her gaze naturally drifted to the side.
There sat Jeron, blissfully asleep, oblivious to the world.
Asleep.
Actually asleep.
And with the most incredibly serene expression...
'What... what is this situation?'
Yuria felt her mind go blank.
Stella Academy, where only the continent's top geniuses gathered.
She, the young lady of a minor noble house, had entered with a pounding heart.
What would classes be like? What about the dorms?
And... what friends would she make?
The maids back home had warned her over and over that the academy was full of major figures and eccentric geniuses, so she had to always be careful.
She'd been worried, but excitement outweighed it.
Especially last night, she'd stayed up worrying about who her semester-long partner would be and how to get close to them, finally falling asleep only after hugging her favorite bear plushie.
If they're skilled, I'll learn from them. If they're a bit behind, I'll help them out.
That's what she'd resolved.
But her first partner, Jeron Airgia, shattered all her expectations from the get-go.
It started off unusual.
Early that morning, while other kids mingled and exchanged greetings upon arriving in the classroom.
Connections at Stella Academy were future assets. Bonding and networking was only natural.
But.
Jeron acted like he couldn't care less, slumping over his desk right from the start.
'Was he up late last night?'
That's what she thought at first.
She herself had barely slept from excitement.
But it was the first day, first class. She believed he'd wake up soon enough.
Yet.
"Um, excuse me... you need to wake up now..."
Even after the class bell rang, her partner didn't budge.
Only when attendance was called did he finally stir, then bolt to the bathroom with a pale face.
At that moment, Yuria actually felt relieved.
'Ah... he must not be feeling well.'
Jeron must've dozed off from poor condition and freaked out realizing he'd slept through the first class.
Yeah, yeah. That can happen!
Yuria nodded to herself.
When he returned, his silver bangs were damp like he'd splashed water on his face, glistening.
He seemed to have pulled himself together to focus.
When she offered words of concern, he surprisingly thanked her kindly. He didn't seem like a bad person.
Reassured, she turned back to the lesson...
"Yuria."
Suddenly, Jeron called her name softly.
"Wake me when class ends."
He declared.
He was going to sleep until then!
And sure enough, after saying that, he slumped over without a twitch.
He didn't even look sick this time!
If anything, he looked comfortable, relaxed. No, for some reason, he even looked smug!
What did he have to be smug about?!
'What do I do...?'
Missing the whole first class would make it so hard to keep up later. Especially since Professor Kate of the Magic Department was blazing through the material at breakneck speed from lesson one.
Anxious, Yuria stamped her feet.
'I should wake him...'
But his sleeping face was so peaceful, she couldn't bring herself to.
He'd specifically asked her to wake him at the end of class, calling her by name and all...
Then, it hit her.
'Huh...? How does he know my name?'
Sure, she'd introduced herself that morning, but Jeron had definitely been asleep then. Did he hear it in his sleep?
Plus, the way he looked at her and spoke... it felt strangely familiar. Like old friends.
'What is it...?'
Unknowingly, Yuria stared intently at the sleeping Jeron.
Silver hair like melted moonlight, snow-white skin, long lashes casting shadows, slightly parted lips...
For some reason, he reminded her of a little cat napping.
'Ah!'
She snapped out of it to realize she'd been peeking at him and missed Professor Kate's explanation.
'Ugh... I'm such an idiot!'
Yuria shook her head vigorously and refocused on class.
***
Ding-dong-dang—
The bell rang.
Stella Academy's grueling first class was over.
"Ugh, uuuugh..."
Most cadets slumped over their desks with groans.
Professor Kate's class was that intense.
Of course, a few looked unfazed.
"Heh, excellent lecture. As expected of Stella Academy. Though it was easy for me, of course."
"Y-Yes! Kaiser's amazing as always! Hehe..."
Kaiser, who'd undergone brutal pre-academy training from his house.
"Oh, this is pretty interesting..."
Luna, elegantly reviewing her notes with her chin propped up like she'd found a fun toy.
"..."
Artel, pulling a thick grimoire from her bag and reading it stone-faced without moving from her seat.
"...Zzz."
And Jeron, just straight-up sleeping. Only those four.
"Cadet Jeron, Cadet Jeron! Class is over!"
The gentle shake on my shoulder woke me pleasantly.
Whoa...
It was perfect nap nirvana. The kind that makes fatigue evaporate.
"Mm... thanks, Yuria."
Yawning as I sat up, Yuria stared at me with a worried face.
And.
Piercing stares mixed with contempt and mockery stabbed from around us.
"Wow. That guy slept through the whole class."
"Acting like that on day one? He's gonna go down in Stella history as a total nutjob."
Whoa.
Talking loud enough for me to hear, basically.
Whatever, I'm the bottom rank, so easy target.
But who cares if someone sleeps? Mind your own business.
There are always types who badmouth others to boost their ego by putting people down.
'That's why you're all extras.'
Faceless, nameless nobodies. Worse than Jeron.
Whatever they think, not my problem.
I brushed off their stares lightly and muttered inwardly.
'Status window.'
The translucent panel floated up. Seeing the numbers there, my lips curled up.
[Level: 6]
[Sloth: 62]
'Jackpot?'
Just did my thing, and bam—level 6, sloth at a whopping 62.
At this rate, items soon.
The top-priority one from the shop since I first opened it.
[Items]
[Elixir of Ultimate Growth (Legendary)]
A sweet-tasting potion. Well, nothing's sweeter than rewards without effort.
-Price: Sloth 1000
-Description: Growth elixir crafted by a grand mage. Permanently boosts all stats massively upon consumption, plus bonus to future stat growth.
Elixir of Ultimate Growth.
Early-game stat explosion, plus insane future potential. Core for any early攻略.
Essential for speedrunning [Stella Academia].
Normally a mid-game lucky drop, but I'm sucking efficiency from the start.
'Heh heh heh... come to papa!'
Price: 1000 sloth.
Steep, but at this accumulation rate, days away.
Just wait, Elixir of Ultimate Growth. You're mine!
As I grinned slyly.
"Cadet Jeron Airgia."
Click-clack.
Heels approached, stopping before me. Professor Kate's icy eyes pierced me.
Oh.
"Yes, Professor."
"Planning the same for next class?"
Cold voice.
Truth is, professors don't care if cadets sleep.
Stella's pure meritocracy.
Freedom in exchange for ruthless expulsion of underperformers.
But Professor Kate's a tsundere educator—cold exterior, warm heart for students. That's why she's trying to look out for trash like me.
Outsiders might fear her, but knowing her true nature, it sounded like affectionate nagging to me.
Anyway, pissing her off here would make academy life hell.
Gotta respond well.
"No, ma'am. Sorry."
I bowed as politely as possible.
Luckily, she just stared a moment before leaving the lecture hall without further grilling.
Crisis averted.
'Good...'
Short break.
One thing to do: find the protagonist.
'Which class?'
[Stella Academia] divides classes by department.
Mine's Magic Dept Class 1. First-years go up to 10.
Class 1 stars: Yuria. Supports: Kaiser, Artel, Luna.
One more lead, but... hasn't shown up yet.
'Alright, let's go.'
I stood to head to other classes. Break's short, so fast steps—but then.
[Warning! Diligent behavior.]
[Continued action will decrease Sloth.]
'No way.'
Even walking briskly is diligent?
Under the system's strict control, I strolled the halls like a leisurely old-timer out for a walk.
After checking Classes 1 through 10...
'Damn.'
No dice.
Protagonist nowhere in sight.
Sigh...攻略 gets trickier.
Need more active story involvement.
'So I gotta power up faster.'
Trudging back, break ended—thanks to sloth-managed slow pace. Zero gains.
I steeled myself.
'Full-day sloth farming... gotta commit, right?'
All-day sloth grind.
Sleeping all day's tough, though. Desk's rock-hard.
Rifling my bag hooked on the chair, I found textbooks. Picked one carefully.
Ooh... perfect thickness, supple leather grip...
Found it. Ultimate pillow...!
As I went to lay my head on it.
A small hand grabbed my sleeve from the side.
"No, Cadet Jeron...! You can't give up already...! You can do it, right?"
"...Huh?"
"You worked so hard to get in. Don't give up even if it's tough. I can help if you want..."
Yuria shook her head, face on the verge of tears.
Like a good Samaritan desperately stopping someone from jumping off a bridge in despair.
In her eyes, I must look like a pitiful cadet crushed by harsh reality, giving up.
Heh...
Can't watch a friend crumble, huh? Even if it's someone she just met today.
Man, she's too pure.
Appreciate the concern, but lectures are incomprehensible anyway, and diligence docks sloth.
This is my best effort.
But explaining to Yuria? No way she'd get it.
So.
"It's fine."
I flashed a grin and buried my head in the pillow—er, textbook.
Several classes passed like that, and I gained key insight.
On sloth accumulation rules.
Not just any sleep counts. Naps during breaks gave zilch. Only 'regular class time' sleep built sloth.
Makes sense.
What is sloth?
One of the seven deadly sins—antithesis of diligence.
Not passive laziness like resting or napping, but actively shirking rightful duties.
As an academy cadet, my duty: 'class participation.'
Break naps? Just rest. Class sleep? 'Duty neglect'—pure sloth.
System mechanics clicking now.
Time flowed on.
"Jeron, Jeron!"
Yuria's voice.
Rubbing eyes, I sat up and stretched.
Whew. Forced sleep should've been rough, but somehow always perfect naps. Trait perk?
Turning, Yuria glared like an angry chickadee, finger wagging.
"Sleeping through every class is bad for your health! You need to eat!"
Y-Yuria? Attitude's gotten frosty...
And 'Cadet Jeron' shifted to just 'Jeron.'
She'd changed tactics.
Good words won't save this hopeless partner.
Time for tough love.
Felt like a pathetic bro getting scolded by his smart lil sis.
Tsk.
I scratched my head.
Per her, it was lunch. No sloth from sleep now anyway.
'Current level and sloth...'
[Level: 10]
[Sloth: 188]
Stacking nicely.
'Good. Short break(?), then afternoon classes full throttle.'
Can't ignore sweet Yuria's goodwill. I followed her to the cafeteria. Leisurely pace, of course.
Mid-meal facing her, a group swarmed our table.
"Ha, who's this? Jeron Airgia, entrance exam dead last and class-sleeping slacker extraordinaire?"
Kaiser.
Second son of the powerhouse Fireheart Ducal House of magic.
"One bit of advice, Jeron Airgia. Stella's standards are strict and sky-high. Dunno how you lucked in, but weak, lazy trash like you won't survive."
Power-and-discipline zealot. Can't stand rootless punks like me sullying academy honor with sloth.
Gangster but model gangster? That type.
In the story, he picks fights if same class—random event. Here too, huh.
Beaten him in-game plenty; too familiar to faze me.
"So drop out ASAP. Don't tarnish Stella's name."
"K-Kaiser! That's too much! Jeron is... Jeron... um... well..."
Yuria jumped to defend, but words failed her.
No helping it. All facts.
But facts can still be defamation, punk...!
Well, imperial law here, no such convenience.
Kaiser flashed Yuria a gentlemanly smile while slyly insulting me.
"Lady Izolde. Better not hang with his type. Sloth and indulgence are contagious."
I slurped soup silently, their chat as BGM. Reacting to punks is hassle.
Then.
[Slothful behavior.]
[Sloth +1]
Huh?
Why's it rising?
Lightbulb moment.
Conversation.
What is it?
Social 'duty' of interacting.
'Ignoring' = unilaterally ditching that duty.
Yes!
Perfect 'sloth'!
So... more blatant ignoring = more sloth?
Clink. I set down my spoon.
"Oho? Got something to say?"
Kaiser cocked his head, daring me.
But I yawned hugely.
"Yawwwn... dog's barking somewhere."
Air around the table froze. Kaiser and crew, even Yuria—stunned faces on me.
But my eyes were elsewhere.
[Extremely slothful behavior!]
[Sloth surges!]
[Sloth +15]
[Level up!]
"Can you not talk to me? It's annoying."
Found it, my honey pot.